Billie Jean King
Quotes
September 11 , 2007: "Pound for pound she is the best athlete I've ever seen. She's incredible and she continues to get better."
— Tennis legend Billie Jean King with high praise for Justine Henin after the 5'5¾”, 126-pound Belgian won the U.S. Open for her seventh Grand Slam crown..
April 17, 2007: "I think it's
very hard to be an American and understand what it feels
like to be a Russian who plays tennis wearing layers
of clothes in the snow. Kids in America, let's
face it, we have the most unbelievable life in this
country, and that's why it's still the greatest
country for opportunity. But once you get to fourth-,
fifth-, sixth-generation Americans, I think we can say
we're all a little softer."
- Tennis legend Billy Jean
King, on why American tennis is in crisis, in The
Philadelphia Inquirer.
March 1, 2007: "I think it was definitely hard for them to change because of the culture and the psyche behind it, but I'm relieved that they finally got there. But remember, it's not about the money, it's about the message it sends to women and girls around the world. Every time we can change a benchmark like this, it helps people ask in their daily life, 'Are we insisting on equality for our sons and daughters?' So that makes it a very important moment in history."
- Billie Jean King,a pioneer for equal rights in sports, on Wimbledon's long-overdue decision to award equal prize money for men and women at this year's championships.
August 6, 2006: "This is a show
of faith and respect. And with it a sense of responsibility.
I don't think I'll ever comprehend this. It's
like, 'Oy vey, the responsibility.' I'm
glad I'm still living. I'm not finished."
- Billy Jean King,
tennis pioneer and all-time great, after learning the
United States Tennis Association is adding her name
to the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona
Park, in The New York Times..
June 16, 2005: “Sharapova
making the kind of money [reportedly $25 million in
endorsements this year] she does is great. But there
is a trade-off for these girls. They have financial
security. But what sort of legacy will they leave? Everything
is about outer success. When I was 15, I wanted to be
the best at something. Girls today want to be famous.
I think all of us realize something isn’t quite
right with that."
— Billie Jean King, all-time
great and women's tennis pioneer, in ESPN The Magazine
"I feel that tennis is an art form that is capable of moving the players and the audience - at least a knowledgeable audience-in almost sensual ways.. When I'm performing at my absolute best, I think that some of the euphoria I feel must be transmitted to the audience."
- Billie Jean King
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